POLISH INTEREST IN ONLINE GAMBLING CONFIRMED Business journal reports factors that influenced the move to legalise The Warsaw Business Journal has confirmed last week's news that the Polish government is about to take a more pragmatic and positive view on the regulation of online gambling (see previous InfoPowa report) The Journal confirms that Deputy Finance Minister Jacek Kapica has intimated that the government plans to legalise online gambling by the end of the (2008) year, a radical change in direction from the position ... Read more

S.A.G.E. LOSES APPEAL IN PAGCOR CASE Cancellation of contract to operate online casinos at the heart of dispute A dispute over the cancellation of a contract for the operation of online casinos by the Internet company Sports and Games Entertainment Corporation (SAGE) saw finality in the Philippines Court of Appeals this week. SAGE had petitioned the court for monetary compensation from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for cancelling its contract to operate online casinos. In a nine-page decision written by Associate Justice ... Read more

UKASH FOR SOUTH AFRICA Innovative payment solution soon available for South Africa's 5 million Internet users South Africa's five million Internet users will soon have access to the innovative Ukash payments system, according to an announcement this week by CEO Mark Chirnside “Ukash is a practical and convenient payment method for those consumers who don’t have cards or have concerns about giving out their financial details online”, said Chirnside this week. “We’re pleased to be making Ukash available from hundreds of conveniently located ... Read more

BWIN GETS INTO THE MONEY Online gambling group awarded FSA licence The Vienna-listed online gambling group Bwin will be able to offer its own e-money payment solutions following the award of a British Financial Services Authority licence after stringent probity checks. The license requirements are subject to tough regulations: In addition to detailed disclosure of the ownership structure and an extensive review of management, specific equity criteria as well as system and infrastructural requirements must be satisfied. In addition, all internal operational and ... Read more

ESSENTIAL READING FOR ONLINE GAMBLING MANAGERS Straight from the shoulder tips on keeping players happy The importance of retaining good players in these difficult economic and competitive times is self-evident, yet support staff and managers continue to make fundamental errors in how they treat the customers on whom success depends. Internet message boards still carry way too many tales of sad experiences at the hands of uncaring and less than efficient staff, leading to one player posting a straight-from-the-shoulder assessment this weekend ... Read more

UK GAMBLING COMPANIES FAIL TO CONTRIBUTE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMING FUNDING Recalcitrant online companies are courting government compulsory levies Despite warnings last year and this that a lack of voluntary contribution could lead to compulsory government levies (see previous InfoPowa reports) many British gambling companies continue to hold back on contributing to funds designed to help problem gamblers. The UK media has picked up the story, claiming that as many as two-thirds of all UK gambling companies have so far failed to contribute. Of ... Read more

The founder of leading poker room Bodog has confirmed his intention to retire after taking a reduced role in the running of the poker room.
After founding the company in 1994, Ayre expanded it from a small entertainment site to a thriving casino and music business who once boasted world champion Jamie Gold as a client. Team Bodog player Matt McCullough finished 3rd at the 2007 WSOP to win almost $800,000.
Ayre has recently served merely ... Read more

Last week third-party broker ePassporte were ordered by the US Government to stop accepting funds destined for online gambling, as it was discovered many American gamblers had discovered a loophole which only prohibited deposits into online casinos and not their actual use.
However, US punters have now been using lesser-known money transfer payment methods, many of which can be found at http://uscasinos.blogspot.com.
Analysts anticipate that not only will activity such as this expose the drastic shortcomings ... Read more

William Hill has announced a cash prize of £1,000 for one of their thousands of customers this month.
In the site's April Cash Splash, they are giving away one prize of £1,000 and then 20 more worth £50 for their customers in a draw at the end of the month.
The draw is eligible to all customers who bet a minimum of £10 until the end of April - £10 gets one ticket into the draw, ... Read more

Innovative 3D online poker room PKR is one of a select group of sites giving away seats to the $2,500 Asian Poker Tour for as little as $2.20.
The format is stage MTTs where players compete in progressively higher-stakes tournaments, and for only $2.20 one can win a prize package worth $5,000 to the APT from May 27 to June 1.
All STT qualifiers will run on PKR until the grand final on May 12. ... Read more